A do-it-yourself guide for getting rid of just about anything.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Scabies

Modified on July 17, 2016

Scabies is an infection of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The itch mite is an eight-legged parasite and not an insect as many people believe. Insects have only six legs. It is relatively invisible to the naked eye and is usually only 0.3 millimeters in length. The mite is transferred by direct contact with other infected people, but they only live for 36 hours once detached from a host. Scabies causes severe itching, which is almost always worse at night. The itch mite is found in all parts of the world and on all groups of people.

The itch mites like to dig their little skin homes in certain parts of the body, such as in between fingers, in armpits,on waistlines, inside of our wrists, on buttocks, around breasts, backs of our elbows, around ankles, on the soles of our feet, and on genitals. Their home or burrow is typically an oblong, round shape. A doctor may locate an itch mite at the end of the burrow and remove it to confirm diagnosis. Scabies is not a serious infection, but it is really annoying and extra gross. So, with the fact about how gross it is, let’s talk about the various kinds and treatments!

Norwegian Crusted Scabies

Crusted scabies is an aggressive infestation of itch mites that usually occur in immunodeficient, homeless, or malnourished individuals. The exact treatment regimen is unclear and depends on the conditions of the infected person. Preexisting conditions are usually present. Some specialists recommend the use of topical ointments as well as an ingested scabicide like ivermectin. Lindane should not be used because of the risk of toxicity from the increased skin absorption through the bare skin.

Best Scabies Treatments

Once you suspect you have been infected, you should see a medical professional to confirm. The doctor will be able to properly diagnose the infection. When the doctor has confirmed a case of scabies, he or she will recommend a course of treatment, which will probably include some or all of the following steps.

Wash yourself, family, pets, and clothing with soap and water. Also, any sexual partners you have had recently should be notified so they can get medication to kill any mites on their bodies. Vacuum your home, furniture, carpets, and curtains frequently while you are being treated. Wash your bed linens in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer to make sure the itch mites are dead. Itch mites will die after 36 hours without a host. But, most importantly, anyone living with you, or that you bump uglies with, is at risk for an infection, so they should also be receiving treatment for scabies.

There are many topical ointments that will get rid of the itch mite. There are two types of mite-killing medication: permethrin (Acticin and Elimite) and lindane (Biowell and Kwell). Lindane should not be used by pregnant women and children under the age of two. It may cause seizures in people with significantly irritated skin or rashes. Sounds like a lovely little concoction, doesn’t it? Your doctor will be able to prescribe the best topical ointment for you, but I would stay away from the lindane stuff.

Antihistamine ointments will do absolutely nothing for the scabies, but it may help with the itch. One of the worst things you can do once you have been infected with scabies is to scratch the burrows. Scratching will increase the size of the burrows and introduce bacteria into the wound, which may end in a bacterial infection, adding ten-fold to your problem. One way to avoid scratching your itches is to use an antihistamine cream like Benadryl (sold at Amazon) to calm the urge.

The anti-parasitic medication ivermectin is now being used to get rid of scabies, too. Originally used to treat parasitic worms, ivermectin has been shown to be as effective as lindane at getting rid of scabies. It is easier to take as it is in a pill form and does not require a head-to-toe rub-down on a daily basis. It is currently being used in world-wide parasitic eradication programs. The CDC does not recommend ivermectin for pregnant or lactating individuals.

Preventing Future Outbreaks

Scabies certainly isn’t the worst infection we can get, but it might be the most annoying. The thought of little disgusting creepy crawlies in my skin makes me nauseous. With this disgusting visual imagery in mind, it’s important to talk about how we can prevent another outbreak of the itch mite. As you are treating yourself and the others in your home, wash all bedding in hot water and dry it in a hot dryer. Vacuum the floor, carpets, upholstery, curtains, and anything else you can’t get in the washing machine. Make sure that everyone is treating their scabies like the doctor instructed. After the treatment is over, you may still experience itching even though the mites are gone. If new burrows appear after the treatment is completed, go back to the doctor to resume treatment. The doctor may prescribe something with a little more kick for you this time. And do everything the same as the first time you got scabies. I really hope you never get scabies. It sounds awful. But if you do, I hope this article helps you.

Best Natural Scabies Treatments

Sulfur is an old treatment for scabies. It usually comes in a cream form and should be applied to the entire body after it has been washed. The cream should be washed off after 24 hours and reapplied. Many people are allergic to sulfur, so it’s not the best natural solution for everyone.

Tea tree oil is best known for its antiseptic quality, but it is also has anti-parasitic qualities. Mix a couple tablespoons with vegetable oil before applying it to your skin. Straight tea tree oil would be ridiculously expensive to apply to your whole body; it would also burn like the dickens. ArtNaturals Tea Tree Oil from Amazon.

Neem is a tree from India, and its extract is being used as a pesticide by organic farmers. For treating scabies, it is usually combined with turmeric, which relieves itching. The two products combined have a 98% success rate and usually get rid of scabies in about two weeks.

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COMMENTS

November 17, 2016 at 9:05 pm

Betsy Fabersays:

Hi Nun,
It’s true that scabies can’t live off of a human host – though we recommend washing all the linens in HOT water and sealing anything you can’t launder for at least 72 hours. Have you considered bed bugs? Check out our post. Bed bugs can live for more than 5 months without feeding….

November 14, 2016 at 4:54 pm

Nun Yuhsays:

I have been fighting what i think might possibly be crusted scabies since May. I have used the permethrin and it took a while but i finally stopped getting bit by the evil critters, i also had moved in with my mom. I moved back in with my friend and the first night sleeping in my bed i started getting bites and i had been gone for two months. They say that crusted scabies only live 72 hours off the body, so how can this be? I also get bites in my car and i go days without driving. Do they lay eggs outside our bodies or only inside our skin? Please help!

October 21, 2016 at 3:06 am

Bunnell Luissays:

I’m working in a facility and so many patients have scabies. Now I begin to scratch my skin so badly. I don’t know if it’s the same thing or not but I’m not the only one scratching. I would like to know if there’s anybody know what can I use to stop that itch please?

please help me!! i have these black looking specks on my computer screen and on me! in my hair scalp and my skin for about 6 years now im suffering and thinking the only way to get rid of them is to end my life!! ive been to a dr been to a dermatologist they both said its in my head its imaginary please i beg someone help me!!!

Sounds good, Phil, and don’t be afraid to give yourself a full (and I mean FULL) body shave!

June 13, 2016 at 8:15 pm

Phil andersonsays:

I was living with my cousin and his girlfriend that’s where I think I picked it up from. I now stay alone with my two you gets sons. I check them daily but I haven’t seen anything in them. I’m goin to go to the doctor tonight and see if I can get the oral supplement ivermectin

I have had scabies for three months I went to the doctor four times and they kept prescribing me permethrin cream. I followed all instructions applied the cream to my entire body from the neck down and let it sit for nine to twelve hours. I washed it off washed all my clothes in hot water and bed linen. After a week I applied more cream as they said. It went away after two weeks and then it started to come back. I have even moved to a new home. I want to go to the doctor again but I don’t think the cream would be another good idea after three or four times using it please help me I can barely sleep at night and the itch is unbearable.

I just did a little digging and as far as I can tell, it’s the only oral medication available for scabies. Have you been to a doctor? Are you certain you have scabies? I ask because permethrin is generally really, really, really effective against them.

August 23, 2014 at 3:16 pm

beth and ronsays:

Is the poison invermectin only internal thing / poison like for dogs to rid your body of these parasites?
thank-you,we have been suffering awhile now, seems they are fully immune to pemethian poisons, at least ours are?